Check your log files to see what is going on and what if any errors (EE) are coming up.

what does (**) mean? i have no (EE) strings but a few more (**) than before and what does that mean (==), as im a complete newbie i do not really know what i am looking for..... thank you!

Interpretation of codes for X log;

Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.

i dont have any errors in the log file? any thing else you think it might be>?

In the log file go to the sections dealing with the graphics card and the monitor and there will be lines dealing with "default mode" look for lines that look like this;

(--) NV(0): Virtual size is 1280x1024 (pitch 1280)
(**) NV(0): Default mode "1280x1024": 108.0 MHz, 64.0 kHz, 60.0 Hz
(II) NV(0): Modeline "1280x1024" 108.00 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
(**) NV(0): Default mode "1024x768": 94.5 MHz, 68.7 kHz, 85.0 Hz
(II) NV(0): Modeline "1024x768" 94.50 1024 1072 1168 1376 768 769 772 808 +hsync +vsync
(**) NV(0): Default mode "800x600": 56.3 MHz, 53.7 kHz, 85.1 Hz
(II) NV(0): Modeline "800x600" 56.30 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
(**) NV(0): Default mode "640x480": 36.0 MHz, 43.3 kHz, 85.0 Hz
(II) NV(0): Modeline "640x480" 36.00 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -hsync -vsync

Tell us what they are. Sometimes there are problems and there is a display but it can be a small blob on the screen. X does not handle ATI cards very well.

hi there, ive taken some of it out, i hope it is enough, there was so much i gave up because i was writing it all down by hand but if more is needed i will go back...

(**) Radeon (0): Virtual size is 800x600 (pitch 832)
(**) Radeon (0): *Default mode "800x600": 56.3Mhz, 53.7Khz, 85.1Hz
(II) Radeon (0): Modeline "800x600" 56.30 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
(**) Radeon (0): default mode "800x600": 49.5Mhz, 46.9Khz, 75Hz
(II) Radeon (0): Modeline "800x600" 49.50 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
(**) Radeon (0): default mode "800x600": 50.0Mhz, 48.1Khz, 72.2Hz
(II) Radeon (0): Modeline "800x600" 50.00 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync

does this make any sense? is it enough? i wish it had all just worked out of the box, im desperate to get a go on linux! lol

i am now posting to you from knoppix live cd, this baffles me? how come knoppix, i know its meant to be great for suto detecting etc.. but why can this pick up everything automatically and mandrake not? im so suprised i am even listining to mp3s off my ntfs windows partition, its great, im just thinking that maybe i will install this to the hard drive now and play around untill maybe i get a little bit more comfortable with linux? still would have been nice to have gotten mandrake working. if anyone knows please advise on best way to install this, i have a page of instructions but if possible i would like to install grub or something so there is a choice between windows and linux? will this be a simple choice during the installation??

thankyou

It's good that you can get something working but did you ever try downloading a driver from the ATI site? It might just be that Knoppix can figure out the video card and has a driver it can use but Mandrake doesn't. ATI doesn't have great linux drivers but I believe they're functional and they might be the solution. Even if you decide to stick with Knoppix you should still grab the ATI drivers as they're probably alot better than the default ones.

Good Luck!

Perhaps the route to go then is to do a Knoppix hard drive install and then progress with the Debian approach or get straight into Debian.
Having spent some time with you on this problem I'm at a loss as to the cause of your display problem as it appears that you do have valid screens. The system should not be putting display into sleep mode since you have not told it to do so.

1. make sure Mandrake recognizes and can work with your vid card. Contact the maker and ask them. if not, get another card that IS supported by Mandrake.
2. Make sure your vid card supports different version of XFree. For example my NVIDIA doesnt support XFRee ver 4, but it has no problems with XFRee ver 3. Maybe you should set up to a lower XFree version.
I KNOW this is a pain but you showed enough brains to get KNOPPIX and try that instead, so there is defiently good chance you will make it. Best thing is not to gte frustrated. One of Linux's weak points is that not all hardware is supported. This IS changing, but slowlly.

well i noticed that on knoppix when i looked around in the control center, the monitors sync rates wee 30-55 and 50-150, and the driver that it was using for my graphics card was "All", what does that mean, if i changed it to ATI there are about 4 different radeons with extensions such as ATI Radeon QD etc... which i do not know what they are? i think i will install this to the harddrive at least untill i know more and am confident with commands and stuff like that within linux! thankyou for all your help!